“Venerable Hyeongak can look after it until the elixir is fully grown. So come to Korea.”
“…….”
He added one more thing to Kazuki, who was hesitating.
“Don’t you want to see how badly Takahashi Norio falls apart?”
For an instant, Kazuki’s eyes gleamed, and he burst into a hearty laugh.
“That sounds fun. And I can grant Gru-chan’s wish, too.”
“Wish?”
“Gru-chan says she wants to tug on Takahashi’s beard.”
Jurim burst out laughing as well.
“She said that?”
“Yees.”
“All right—shall I try naturalizing for Gru-chan’s sake?”
“Ooh!”
Gru had no idea what naturalizing meant, but she slapped hands with Kazuki in a high five.
She didn’t know, but if they were talking about it this excitedly, it had to be something good!
However, it was right after Kazuki gave his answer that he would naturalize.
Ding—!
Gru blinked at the caregiver quest window that popped up before her eyes.
‘Huh?’
“Then On-chan, can I go to Hyeonak?”
“No.”
“Whyyy?!”
“It’s a hassle. Naturalize and become a civil servant or something.”
“I really, really don’t want that.”
Kazuki whined, and Gru looked back and forth between the quest window and Kazuki.
He didn’t seem to be reluctant about this thing called “naturalization.” If anything, Kazuki looked a little excited.
Hmm. Gru rested her small hand on her chin.
‘Then why did a quest like this pop up?’
Chapter: Amakusa Reiji’s Gift
Dawn, when the dimness had yet to recede.
After finishing his worship at Yasukuni Shrine, Takahashi Norio looked up at the sky.
It was thick with dark clouds.
Thinking it an ill omen, he suddenly thought of Jurim.
[- This is On Jurim of Hyeonak.]
The owner of the voice that had come through with a sudden phone call.
He had threatened to reveal to Kazuki who had placed the debuff on him.
To him, the prime minister! By a mere guild leader!
In the end, Takahashi Norio had no choice but to hastily withdraw Yamaoka Shun of the Public Security Department and the special forces.
[- I’ll contact you again.]
Recalling that voice, which had calmly said only what it needed to say, rage welled up in him again, and he clicked his tongue.
He should have brought Amakusa Kazuki back sooner.
Even though he could not be certain that the fact he himself was the caster of the debuff would not reach Kazuki’s ears, Takahashi could not ignore the destructive power of the name “On Jurim.”
After all, taking one step back was the better choice than losing Yamaoka Shun and all of the special forces to On Jurim.
He had lost the helicopter, but since he had prevented a situation in which there were casualties, he would be able to take a step back from responsibility for the reckless act.
‘I have to coax Amakusa back somehow…….’
He had never dreamed that Amakusa Kazuki would choose death for the sake of freedom.
He had thought they had achieved peaceful coexistence until now…….
Tch. Takahashi Norio was just moving to get into the car under his secretary’s guidance.
[“The weather is foul for some reason, Prime Minister Takahashi.”]
Sato Yoshihiro, the opposition party leader, blocked his path with a string of aides in tow, looking like a snake with the face of Buddha.
There had to be countless meanings contained in the words that the weather was foul.
Facing him, Takahashi Norio spoke sarcastically.
[“What brings you here? You, who normally never set foot in this place.”]
Sato Yoshihiro was a man who went on about human rights and showed excessive sympathy even toward Awakened, making him a political enemy as bothersome to Takahashi Norio as a thorn in his eye.
He was needling him about why a man who, under normal circumstances, would have brought up relations with Korea or pacifism and not even glanced at Yasukuni Shrine, had come here.
[“I heard some unfortunate news and wished to deliver it to you personally, Prime Minister.”]
What Sato Yoshihiro handed him was a morning paper that was just about to be released.
‘Looks like he got his hands on it in advance.’
[Exclusive] Amakusa Preparing to Naturalize in Korea?
……Amakusa’s close associate reveals it is due to discord with Prime Minister Takahashi…….
As Takahashi Norio read down the article, his complexion turned blue, then went deathly pale.
There was only one place that came to mind!
[“On Jurim!”]
The newspaper crumpled in Takahashi’s hand.
[“Goodness, you’ve crumpled it. Well, it’s fine. It’s only one of countless newspapers that will soon be laid out on the stands.”]
With a magnanimous expression, Sato Yoshihiro clasped his hands behind his back and continued.
[“The helicopter, and Kazuki as well, have ended up staying in Korea. Sadly.”]
Takahashi ground his teeth.
This snake-like bastard! Just how much does he know?
[“Every action I have taken stems from patriotism.”]
Placing a curse on Amakusa Kazuki had been patriotism.
Did other countries not also hold a leash or two over their S-ranks in some form or another?
The people had to know that he was different from those who worried about the nation while also snickering in expectation, “Will Takahashi finally fall this time?”
Sato Yoshihiro, who could smile at the news of Amakusa Kazuki’s naturalization, was the one who was unpatriotic.
[“Representative Sato. You seem pleased that Amakusa Kazuki is leaving Japan?”]
[“You misunderstand. Ah, the sun is rising. I sincerely hope the discord between you two is resolved and Hunter Amakusa returns.”]
As Sato Yoshihiro bowed and turned to leave, Takahashi spat out through clenched teeth.
[“As of today, we will begin sanctions. Korea will have to choose between Amakusa Kazuki and SSPED.”]
All he had to do was make it so that the Korean side would not accept Amakusa Kazuki’s naturalization.
If he showed him that he could block his path as much as he liked, the bastard would quiet down.
No matter how extraordinary a Hunter he was, as an individual included within a group, he would come to painfully realize just how powerless a human he was.
And so, that day, the Japanese government announced a proposal for export sanctions against Korea.
*
[Undergrown Elixir…… 34%]
The flowerpot in which the elixir had been planted sat on the living room windowsill, where the sunlight fell well.
Gru stroked her head, which felt empty now that the sprout had disappeared, then turned her gaze to the TV.
[]
It was an interview with Kazuki, who had returned to Japan for the time being.
Below Kazuki’s face as he spoke in Japanese with a smile, large subtitles read, “I will abide by Korea’s decision.”
In order to respond to Japan’s export sanctions, Korea was currently refraining from approving Kazuki’s naturalization for the time being.
The explanation continued that the Korean government was likely weighing which would be better to have: Amakusa Kazuki or SSPED.
[]
When the screen changed to Prime Minister Takahashi, Gru turned off the TV with a sullen face.
“Hmph!”
Jurim had explained it simply so that Gru could understand the difficult matter, but even so, there was truly not a single thing Gru could do.
In the end, Gru could only check that the elixir was growing well and wait for Kazuki to return safely to Korea.
‘But elixir, why aren’t you growing well……?’
Even though more than a week had passed, it had only grown by 1%.
She had to grow it quickly and clear the caregiver quest.
[Caregiver Quest]
[Caregiver “Amakusa Kazuki” is hesitating, unable to easily make a decision. Let’s help your caregiver and be filial!]
No matter how many times she read it, it was unclear what he was hesitating over and what he could not decide.
Thus, from Gru’s perspective, she could only guess that perhaps it was a quest that would be completed once the elixir grew.
‘Mm, let’s work hard to grow it! Elixir!’
If she had to plant the elixir in her head again for Master’s sake, she was willing to do so.
‘For now, I’ll keep watching…….’
If it really would not grow, then she had no choice—
Gru squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Gru will become Groot……!’